Farm, Ranch Expo kicks off busy holiday season

McCOOK, Neb. -- The November and December calendar is full, according to McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tacie Fawver. Beginning with the McCook Farm and Ranch Expo next week, the chamber and members will be busy promoting local business and industry and helping everyone get into a holiday spirit.

The chamber will be co-hosting a booth with Red Willow County Tourism at the Farm and Ranch Expo next Wednesday and Thursday. They will be promoting the "Countdown to Christmas" retail chamber promotion.

The promotion, which began last week and runs through Dec. 18, encourages gift-buyers to shop at participating merchants' businesses. Shoppers can pick up a stamp card at any participating business and receive a stamp for every $10 spent. Each card will contain room for ten stamps, and once filled, shoppers can leave the card in drop boxes throughout town for a chance to win a daily drawing beginning Dec, 1. A grand prize drawing will be held on Dec. 22 and will award prizes valued over $1,000.

Participating businesses include Ampride / Frenchman Valley Coop, Brown's Shoe Fit, Citta' Deli, D & S Hardware, Eakes Office Solutions, Garden View Gift Shop (Community Hospital), Hershberger Music Company, Janssen Kool Honda, Keystone Floral & All That Pizazz, Longnecker Jewelry, Loop Brewing Company, McCook Lettering/Garrison's, Mint 217, Orscheln Farm & Home, Peterson Jewelers, Samway Floor Covering & Furniture, Schmick's Market, Sehnert's Bakery and Bieroc Café, The Sports Shoppe, TOP Office Products, and VK Electronics.

Sponsors for the promotion include Casey's General Stores, High Plains Radio, Hometown Family Radio, KRVN, McCook Gazette, McCook National Bank, Prime Media Productions and the Chamber.

On Nov. 28, retailers will be promoting "Shop Small Saturday" with double stamps awarded. Several retailers will be handing out canvas bags as a way to thank shoppers for patronizing small businesses.

Official kickoff to the Christmas season will begin on Dec. 5, with Santa flying into the McCook Airport at 10 a.m. He will be at the Community Building at Red Willow County Fairgrounds from 1 to 3 p.m., along with his reindeer. The "Light Up the Bricks" light parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Norris Avenue.

A Quarterly Networking Affair will take place on Dec. 9 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium.

This event will be a combination expo and mixer, according to Fawver. The $5 entry fee will provide visitors two free drink tickets, as well as make them eligible for door prizes. Several area businesses will have booths set up, and a Festival of Wreaths will be on display. The wreaths will be sold at silent auction with proceeds benefiting various local non-profit organizations. The wreaths will be on display at the Chamber office beginning Nov. 23.

Looking into January, the annual Chamber banquet will be Jan. 30 at the Kiplinger Arena.

Fawver said that the banquet is open to the community.